Microbial biodegradation of plastics: Challenges, opportunities, and a critical perspective

Shilpa, .; Basak, Nitai; Meena, Sumer Singh

doi:10.1007/s11783-022-1596-6

Cited by 43 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 168 publications

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“…Our results show that both strains CPEF-6 and CPEF-7 have the ability to degrade LDPE sheets, while CPEF-6 (0.30 ± 0.06%) has a superior degradation ability than CPEF-7 (0.20 ± 0.01%) ( Figure 4 A). The properties of the polymer itself affect its degradation rates, such as molecular weight, crystallization rate, melting temperature, and additives added to the polymer [ 47 ]. The low weight loss may be due to the properties of the LDPE sheets used, which affects the degradation rate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene by the Fungus Cladosporium sp. Recovered from a Landfill Site

Gong

Jin

et al. 2023

JoF

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Low density polyethylene (LDPE) has been widely used commercially for decades; however, as a non-degradable material, its continuous accumulation has contributed to serious environmental issues. A fungal strain, Cladosporium sp. CPEF-6 exhibiting a significant growth advantage on MSM-LDPE (minimal salt medium), was isolated and selected for biodegradation analysis. LDPE biodegradation was analyzed by weight loss percent, change in pH during fungal growth, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Inoculation with the strain Cladosporium sp. CPEF-6 resulted in a 0.30 ± 0.06% decrease in the weight of untreated LDPE (U-LDPE). After heat treatment (T-LDPE), the weight loss of LDPE increased significantly and reached 0.43 ± 0.01% after 30 days of culture. The pH of the medium was measured during LDPE degradation to assess the environmental changes caused by enzymes and organic acids secreted by the fungus. The fungal degradation of LDPE sheets was characterized by ESEM analysis of topographical alterations, such as cracks, pits, voids, and roughness. FTIR analysis of U-LDPE and T-LDPE revealed the appearance of novel functional groups associated with hydrocarbon biodegradation as well as changes in the polymer carbon chain, confirming the depolymerization of LDPE. This is the first report demonstrating the capacity of Cladosporium sp. to degrade LDPE, with the expectation that this finding can be used to ameliorate the negative impact of plastics on the environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene by the Fungus Cladosporium sp. Recovered from a Landfill Site

Gong

Jin

et al. 2023

JoF

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“…The sections above showed that the accumulation of plastic waste and its environmental impact on the ecosystem and human health are of huge concern. Therefore, several mitigation strategies are adopted to cope with plastic pollution, including photodegradation, thermo-oxidative degradation, and biodegradation [310,311]. Compared to others, microbial mitigation of plastic polymers offers sustainable routes to plastic production and waste management [312].…”

Section: Microbial Mitigation Of Plastic Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview

Lakhiar,

Yan,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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Plastic products in plant production and protection help farmers increase crop production, enhance food quality, and reduce global water use and their environmental footprint. Simultaneously, plastic has emerged as a critical ecological issue in recent years, and its pollution has significantly impacted soil, water, and plants. Thus, this review examines the multifaceted problems of plastic pollution in agriculture as a risk to food security, the ecosystem, and the environment. The study’s objective was to review and present the most recent information on using different plastic products in agriculture, the sources of plastic pollution, the advantages and drawbacks of using plastic products, and the strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in agriculture. Furthermore, after examining current plastic applications, benefits, adverse effects, and risks to soil, plants, and the environment, we addressed the requirements for technological advancements, regulations, and social processes that could contribute to mitigating plastic pollution in our ecosystems. We identified different pathways toward more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and discussed future research directions.

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“…However, the structural complexity of synthetic polymers affects the actions of these factors. Factors affecting the plastic biodegradation were discussed in many comprehensive review papers (Shah et al, 2008;Tokiwa et al, 2009;Yuan et al, 2020;Shilpa Basak and Meena, 2022).…”

Section: Factors Affecting Plastic Biodegradation Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

A minireview on the bioremediative potential of microbial enzymes as solution to emerging microplastic pollution

Jesus

Alkendi²

2023

Front. Microbiol.

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Accumulating plastics in the biosphere implicates adverse effects, raising serious concern among scientists worldwide. Plastic waste in nature disintegrates into microplastics. Because of their minute appearance, at a scale of <5 mm, microplastics easily penetrate different pristine water bodies and terrestrial niches, posing detrimental effects on flora and fauna. The potential bioremediative application of microbial enzymes is a sustainable solution for the degradation of microplastics. Studies have reported a plethora of bacterial and fungal species that can degrade synthetic plastics by excreting plastic-degrading enzymes. Identified microbial enzymes, such as IsPETase and IsMHETase from Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 and Thermobifida fusca cutinase (Tfc), are able to depolymerize plastic polymer chains producing ecologically harmless molecules like carbon dioxide and water. However, thermal stability and pH sensitivity are among the biochemical limitations of the plastic-degrading enzymes that affect their overall catalytic activities. The application of biotechnological approaches improves enzyme action and production. Protein-based engineering yields enzyme variants with higher enzymatic activity and temperature-stable properties, while site-directed mutagenesis using the Escherichia coli model system expresses mutant thermostable enzymes. Furthermore, microalgal chassis is a promising model system for “green” microplastic biodegradation. Hence, the bioremediative properties of microbial enzymes are genuinely encouraging for the biodegradation of synthetic microplastic polymers.

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Microbial biodegradation of plastics: Challenges, opportunities, and a critical perspective

Cited by 43 publications

References 168 publications

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene by the Fungus Cladosporium sp. Recovered from a Landfill Site

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene by the Fungus Cladosporium sp. Recovered from a Landfill Site

Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview

A minireview on the bioremediative potential of microbial enzymes as solution to emerging microplastic pollution

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